Kimimaro replied, "Orochimaru-sama, I feel my illness has improved somewhat."
"Oh!"
Orochimaru's interest was piqued.
He instructed Kimimaro to lie on the operating table while connecting him to various instruments monitoring his vital signs.
Kimimaro glanced at the demon chained in the laboratory, then looked away.
Having participated in the Land of Grass operation, he knew much about the demons' threat to the shinobi world.
In any other setting, he would have unhesitatingly eliminated the demon.
But in Orochimaru's laboratory, even though he felt uneasy about Orochimaru privately researching demons, he kept silent.
After examining Kimimaro, Orochimaru marveled, "Your condition has indeed improved significantly. Was it 'A'? How did he do it?"
Kimimaro didn't conceal the truth, recounting how, during the Land of Grass war, he unleashed the 'biological exoskeleton' on his body and unexpectedly gained a mysterious power.
However, he omitted the part involving Neji.
"Mysterious power!?"
Orochimaru's expression grew serious.
He knew the strength of 'Upper Moon One.' During the earlier encounter in the Land of Snow's mountains, Kimimaro and Kabuto together were easily defeated by 'Upper Moon One.'
In the Land of Grass war, 'Upper Moon One' had shone, single-handedly holding off the Sand shinobi army and nearly killing the Fourth Kazekage in front of elite Sand forces, earning a fearsome reputation!
For Kimimaro to match such a top-tier powerhouse with a mysterious power showed just how formidable that power was.
After pondering, Orochimaru assigned Kimimaro a new task: to investigate and master that mysterious power.
With his insight, it wasn't hard to deduce that Kimimaro's mysterious power was tied to the Akatsuki's 'A.' Thus, keeping a close eye on 'A' would reveal everything.
In Uchiha Shinji's Apartment.
"He went to Orochimaru, huh?"
Sitting on his bed, Shinji's lips curved slightly.
With Jikibi and Wazunagi constantly active, he could monitor the movements of anyone marked by Jikibi.
Thus, he immediately noticed when Kimimaro slipped out of the village to secretly meet Orochimaru.
"Tenseigan…"
Shinji murmured, contemplating whether Kimimaro's clandestine meeting with Orochimaru risked exposing the Tenseigan.
Currently, only the Otsutsuki clan on the moon, Shinji, and Neji knew of the Tenseigan's existence in the shinobi world.
Unlike the Rinnegan, which appeared in various legends, the Tenseigan had never manifested in the shinobi world, except when Kimimaro briefly accessed a Tenseigan state during the war.
Post-war, Shinji had privately warned Neji not to reveal the Tenseigan's secret to anyone. So, while Kimimaro had temporarily experienced the Tenseigan, he likely knew little about it and had no core secrets to leak.
The only concern was whether Orochimaru might privately dismantle the half 'biological exoskeleton' Shinji had implanted in Kimimaro.
After some thought, Shinji shook his head. "Doesn't matter."
Not only could Jikibi monitor Kimimaro's status at any time, but if Orochimaru tampered with the half 'biological exoskeleton,' Shinji would know instantly.
Even if Orochimaru bypassed his monitoring and obtained the half 'biological exoskeleton,' he'd only uncover the secret of White Zetsu cells, which wouldn't significantly hinder Shinji's 'Tenseigan Plan.'
Shinji's 'Tenseigan Plan' required many components. Kimimaro and his half 'biological exoskeleton' were just one piece.
The rest depended on Neji, the half 'biological exoskeleton' implanted in him, and the Tenseigan chakra from the giant Tenseigan on the moon.
Even with all these, it would only allow Kimimaro to briefly enter a Tenseigan state, as seen in the Land of Grass war.
To truly obtain a pair of Tenseigan, a pure Byakugan was needed as a vessel.
In the original timeline, Toneri Otsutsuki seized Hanabi Hyuga's Byakugan and fused it with his Otsutsuki chakra to evolve it into a Tenseigan. When Naruto and Hinata retrieved Hanabi's eyes, the Tenseigan, deprived of Otsutsuki chakra, reverted to a Byakugan.
Thus, achieving a stable Tenseigan was no easy feat.
However, Shinji already had a plan, and following it gave him a very high chance of creating a stable pair of Tenseigan.
The night passed uneventfully.
At dawn, Shinji closed the Wazunagi channel, halting the extraction of Sasuke's chakra, then yawned, got up, and began washing up.
At the Shinobi Academy, Shinji trained on the field as usual.
Shion, finally catching him, pestered him with questions about the Land of Grass war.
Annoyed, Shinji said sternly, "Shion, we're shinobi. Missions we undertake are confidential!"
Shion pouted. "I'm just curious!"
At that moment, Karin arrived at the academy.
Shinji glanced at her discreetly, then looked away.
Having absorbed Sasuke's chakra all night, Karin, nourished by All Creation Power, was radiant with energy.
Shion seemed to notice, letting out a soft, "Huh?"
"What's up?" Shinji asked.
Shion pointed toward the gate. "Shinji, is that Sasuke?"
Shinji looked over and saw a figure with dark circles under their eyes, looking listless and hunched, leaning against the gate, panting lightly…